A COVENTRY mother’s campaign to make sure doctors listen to parents’ concerns about their sick children has reached the House of Commons.

Debbie Flowers has been fighting to change the guidelines for doctors since her daughter Bethany died from cancer four years ago.

Doctors misdiagnosed the 10 year-old with asthma, despite her mum’s protests that it was more serious.

By the time they realised they were wrong it was too late.

Debbie has launched a petition called Bethany’s Law, demanding doctors take parents more seriously.

She has been backed by city MP Jim Cunningham, who has launched an Early Day Motion raising the issue in the House of Commons.

Mr Cunningham, Coventry South Labour MP, said: “As soon as I heard about the campaign I was anxious to do what I could to raise the matter in Parliament. No parent who loses a child should have to go through the added grief of knowing that your concerns were ignored.”

Bethany repeatedly saw her GP and doctors at A&E during the two weeks before she died. Eventually doctors found a tumour in her windpipe blocking her airways.

However, she died as she was being rushed to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for specialist treatment.

Bethany’s case is far from unique. A study in the British Medical Journal last year warned errors by paediatric staff were common and children’s services were inferior to those in comparable European countries.

It found failings in the care of a quarter of children who died.

Mr Cunningham said it could be hard for busy doctors to distinguish between symptoms caused by harmless ailments and those brought on by potentially fatal illnesses.

“I am not suggesting that doctors should be advised to suspend judgement in any way,” he said.

“However, it is clear that a child’s main carer, who has experience of their behaviour, is well placed to gauge the severity of their illness.”

The Early Day Motion has already been signed by 18 MPs.

Meanwhile the petition Mothers Know Best: Bethany’s Law has attracted more than 1,200 signatures.

Debbie, of Belmont Road, Foleshill, is now seeking sponsorship and fundraisers to continue the campaign.

She wants to print hundreds of paper petitions to circulate to her supporters across the country and hold a balloon launch to raise awareness.

She said: “People think it won’t happy to them, but in reality this could be their child or grandchildren, niece or nephew.